Hey, Bill Posey. You voted for a $1.4 trillion increase in the national deficit. Whatever happened to Mr. Fiscal Conservative? Mr. Tea Party? I have been a Democrat my whole life, and I am more fiscally responsible than you. I would never have voted for a bill that gives tax breaks to owners of private jet airplanes, yet strips $25 billion from Medicare.

Did you forget that your district has a lot of senior citizens? Are you just a yes-man for the Republican Party? I think your recent series of votes show that you care more about the Republican agenda than your constituents.

Barbara Martin, Melbourne

Volunteers salute veterans

The Holmes Regional Medical Center and Palm Bay hospitals which supply the American flags for dying veterans are so appreciative to the veterans and their families for the opportunity to recognize these very deserving service people. You can find us (volunteers) all over the hospitals. We are there to help and to give back to our communities.

Judy Girotti, Palm Bay

Letters on bravery wildly different

Thank you for publishing the Nov. 17 letter by Mr. Jerry Schleifer titled “How does one define bravery?” It should be required reading for all those who have been so quick to condemn the football players who knelt during the national anthem.

I have read dozens of printed commentaries and listened to numerous discussions regarding the “kneeling issue” but in my opinion none have been as incisive and insightful as Mr. Schleifer’s statement.

And then there appeared the Nov. 19 letter by Mr. Greelis: “NFL players aren’t showing bravery” According to that screed, football players who kneel “ ... are (not) too bright anyway," are being stupid, are trash, should be deported, committed treason.

While the writer probably feels good about seeing his screed in your paper, he really adds nothing of substance to what has become a nationwide debate about our First Amendment right of dissent. As our president says in many of his empty tweets: “Sad.”

Thomas Grotelueschen, Cocoa Beach

Respect missing in NFL debate

After reading Nov. 17 and 19 letters regarding bravery and the NFL players’ protests, I find my feelings lie between the two writers' views. Overall, what I see from every side is a sad lack of respect.

I agree these players exercised bravery in making such a provocative statement. Unfortunately, their large voice was misused in this case. The issue of police misconduct towards African-Americans was lost in the noise following the protest. Instead it sparked this raucous, sometimes rude debate on respect for our national anthem, our veterans, and the meaning of being an American. Tragically, it appears the original issue was lost in all this noise.

Also, these protesting players are not average Americans on those Sundays. With an enormous audience, they wear a uniform, representing a team and a community — a much larger presence than any typical citizen could have. As an Air Force veteran, I know this crosses the line between asserting individual First Amendment rights and misrepresenting a larger organization. They are willing to exercise a right without proper responsibility.

Unfortunately this episode highlights today’s epidemic of disrespect. Disrespect toward our country, laws, communities, our shared values and most importantly, toward each other. It is in this protest, the injustices that sparked it, and our general reaction to it. We should all take a moment to view every aspect of these events through a scope of respect. Perhaps that is the greatest American value that has been ignored by all throughout this unfortunate episode.

Peter Larsen, Melbourne

There's life without cow's milk

A thoughtful letter writer ('Cow's Milk Not Fit For Humans,' Nov. 17) explained the rampant abuse of dairy cows in factory farms. In response, another letter writer stated that "Telling people not to drink milk will not stop animal abuse" and that he couldn't "even think of life without ice cream."

Ignored is the fact that green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes supply bones with adequate calcium. Ignored is the fact that no other animals drink milk after they are weaned, yet somehow manage to grow up and thrive just fine. Ignored is the fact that many people are lactose-intolerant and have trouble digesting milk. Ignored is the fact that antibiotics are fed like candy to factory farm cattle to accelerate growth, producing antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria that infect humans. Ignored is the fact that delicious ice cream and milk substitutes made from almonds, soy, or grains abound in local grocery stores. Ignored is the fact that the dairy industry has sold the public a bill of goods about how essential dairy products are for proper nutrition.

But I agree with the second letter writer. As long as people choose to ignore the facts about dairy and "can't even think about life without ice cream," rampant animal abuse will continue.